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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

☞ EAT: Doug E.'s Chicken and Waffles

The colorful, 1980's graffiti inspired storefront at 132nd Street and ACP/7th Avenue has had folks wondering for the past couple of years when the eatery will actually open. Doug E.'s Chicken and Waffles is named after its proprietor, old school, hip hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh who apparently also bought a few townhouses to restore in Harlem. Rumors of the chicken joint's opening have been circulating for some time but there hasn't been any activity on the site until recently. The lower photo shows a side entrance that was getting some work done on it this week. Does anyone have any inside info? Photos by Ulysses

9 comments:

Who knows, every now & then one can see signs of life going on and just when you think its going to happen, poof. Nothing!. My question is this; how is Mr. Fresh able to afford paying for this place that has laid dormant for years? Its very bizarre. I think its going have to be one fantastic joint in order to turn a profit.

December '08 - The New York Post has decided to put all of Doug E. Fresh‘s financial business out on the street. According to an article in today’s paper, the legendary rapper is facing foreclosure on not one, nor two, but three homes in Harlem. He is also facing several thousands of dollars in collections and tax liens. All of this in the face of the opening of his new chicken and waffles restaurant.

From The Post:

The Human Beat Box is taking a financial beating.

Rap icon Doug E. Fresh – best known for his ’80s hit “The Show” – has been socked with three foreclosure actions by banks looking to collect more than $3.5 million in unpaid mortgages on a trio of his Harlem homes.

The rapper, 46, also is being chased by American Express for nearly $60,000 in credit-card debt, and the IRS just slapped him with a $367,000 tax lien on top of more than $40,000 owed to the state tax collector, records show.

The golden-voiced rapper, whose real name is Douglas Davis, grew up in Harlem. After his skill at vocally imitating drumbeats and percussion sounds made him famous in the 1980s, he stayed in the neighborhood, investing in local real estate and raising five sons.

He fell behind in payments and, according to a foreclosure suit filed in Manhattan in late August, 2008, he now owes more than $1.73 million.

Davis is putting the finishing touches on Doug E’s Chicken and Waffles, a new Harlem restaurant slated to open next month. -

I've walked by that place for the past year and had just assumed that it had been opened at some point and then went out of business.

A diner would do great - look at how busy ihop always is. Another fast food fried chicken place opened near me below 135th and FDB. It is not what Harlem needs more of, although it is certainly better than the deserted storefront was.